tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61965302906129767242018-03-06T01:45:02.016-06:00At the MACThe MACnoreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-66033878654913461872014-04-04T16:14:00.000-05:002014-04-04T16:14:15.835-05:00A Decade at New Philharmonic<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdpU24JkJsQ/Uz8f2fAhF8I/AAAAAAAAATY/31YtTGJ6RkQ/s1600/kirk+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xdpU24JkJsQ/Uz8f2fAhF8I/AAAAAAAAATY/31YtTGJ6RkQ/s1600/kirk+photo.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a>They tell me that when we perform Beethoven’s Fifth and Beethoven’s Seventh at the MAC next week, I&nbsp;will have been conducting there for exactly ten years. Hard to believe! As with all artists who are studying a role, choreography, a piano sonata or an orchestral score,&nbsp;normal time becomes quite distorted and certainly compacted. I can study a score for four hours and it seems like ten minutes. I can study a concert for a month and it seems like two days.<br /><br />One of the goals that I set for myself ten years ago was that the orchestra should be able to compete with any of the orchestras in this city and for our patrons to be "wowed"&nbsp;when they attended our concerts. This meant not only the quality of the playing, but the presentation, the human feeling that each person felt when joining us for a concert, the “it"&nbsp;factor. That "it"&nbsp;factor means for me that when a person walks in to the MAC he or she is in one state of heart and mind, and when they leave they should practically float out.&nbsp; After each concert,&nbsp;I hope for the following&nbsp;comment from at least one patron: "That was even better than last time. How are you going to top that?" My response is invariably something like:&nbsp;"Oh&nbsp;tonight was nothin'!&nbsp;Just wait for the next concert! It will make this one look like New York pizza."&nbsp;To some extent I am kidding,&nbsp;but on another level, I am truly expecting that of New Philharmonic.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have lots and lots of dreams for our orchestra. When I first came here,&nbsp;I dreamt of having a New Year's concert at the MAC.&nbsp;The administration supported me in this goal and&nbsp;our annual New Year’s concert has flourished. I knew in my gut when I first met the MAC audience that this would be a concert that would excite them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Next season, because people love the concert so much, we are planning to offer three performances in one day!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In addition, next year, I will be able to add a children's competition to our outreach into the community, which will allow us the chance to showcase a child’s musical talent at each and every one of our concerts. They will play solo for just a few minutes on the main stage at intermission. I do this with the orchestra that I conduct in Indiana, and it is often my favorite part of the concert. For me,&nbsp;including a young person from the community at our concerts has tremendous value and gives us all the chance to change the life of a young person forever. Another goal that I set for myself&nbsp;when beginning a decade ago was to ensure that the opera flourished at the MAC. I am committed to ensuring that this fantastic and arresting art form not only survives,&nbsp;but that it flourishes. In pursuit of this goal, we are planning to do a concert version of an opera next season. I will have more information on our plans for next season at a later time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />As I sign off this blog,&nbsp;I want to say that this orchestra has a special feeling to it, and that this feeling&nbsp;does not come from me.&nbsp;It comes from Harold Bauer, the conductor who founded the orchestra; it comes from our musicians to an overwhelming degree; it comes from the feeling in the MAC - the intimacy and closeness with the patrons there.<br /><br />I hope that you will join us on Saturday April 12th and Sunday April 13th for the two "Ultimate Rebel"<br />Beethoven concerts.&nbsp;I do not view myself as a rebel.&nbsp;I&nbsp;want only to be a musician creating what is needed and desired in 2014, 2015, 2020, 2025 and beyond. We, as musicians,&nbsp;are living in a whirling, fast-evolving world, and we should be keenly attuned to our environment,&nbsp;the needs of our business,&nbsp;and the passions of our audience. That has been and will continue to be my charge going forward. <br /><br />I thank you for having me for the past decade. I thank you&nbsp; for the opportunity to create,&nbsp; study,&nbsp; learn,&nbsp; give back,&nbsp; and hopefully, at times, change the feeling in your hearts. <br /><br />- kirk<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-65218168996286354312014-03-13T14:26:00.000-05:002014-03-13T14:26:01.954-05:00Q&A with Orbert Davis of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-44HZBYfWoNw/Ux-MpJj2oYI/AAAAAAAAABQ/iJs3yiPxG7A/s1600/mardi-gras-carnival_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-44HZBYfWoNw/Ux-MpJj2oYI/AAAAAAAAABQ/iJs3yiPxG7A/s1600/mardi-gras-carnival_01.jpg" height="312" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On March 22, Orbert Davis and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Ensemble celebrate the rich musical culture of New Orleans in an evening of ragtime melodies, brass band marches, funeral processions, and more at the MAC. The concert includes the premiere of Survival of the Saints, a new work by Orbert Davis honoring the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Featured guest artists include Reginald Robinson, recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” grant for his innovative ragtime compositions, and Grammy Award winning musician Howard Levy. To help build excitement for this new piece and the concert at the MAC, we asked Artistic Director Orbert Davis a few questions:</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;">Why are you excited for the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s debut performance at the MAC, which has a strong history of great jazz programming?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The MAC is indeed a terrific venue for presenting jazz. I have performed there with my smaller groups (quartet and quintet), in addition to being a guest artist with the COD Jazz Ensemble. So performing there with the Chamber Ensemble feels like a continuation and extension of a great relationship. The College of DuPage has been so supportive of jazz in the Chicago area. The College’s jazz station 90.9 WDCB is the home of my Friday night radio broadcast, the Real Deal! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Can you tell me about the inspiration for your new work “Survival of the Saints?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">New Orleans is one of my favorite cities, and of course I know a lot of musicians from there.&nbsp; So I had a very strong personal reaction as Hurricane Katrina hit and I witnessed the storm and its aftermath. &nbsp;Katrina affected everyone in the city. It’s a universal experience that everyone shared. And perhaps because of that, there is a spirit of community and a will to survive among the residents that has astonished me. Everyone says, “We will get through this”, not “I will get through this”.&nbsp; You can hear that tenacity and strength even in the music of the street artists, reflecting what they’ve gone through and how they’ve survived. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Will MAC audiences notice a festive quality to this piece that will be performed just weeks after the ultimate Mardi Gras celebration in the Big Easy this March?</b><br /><i>We’re calling this “Carnival” for a reason! The music is going to move you from the beginning to the end. We’ll be celebrating with music of legendary artists like Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Doctor John, and so many more. There will be ragtime melodies, brass band marches, Indian Mardi Gras music … If someone doesn’t feel anything, we will have to check their pulse! <br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Will audiences hear your signature trumpet solos in the upcoming concert at the MAC?</b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh yes, there will be trumpet solos in my new piece and throughout the concert. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-indent: -24px;">Can you tell us more about any special guest performers who will be joining you on stage at the MAC?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Howard Levy and Reginald Robinson are not only masters of virtuosity; they are emblematic expressions of wide-ranging musical and cultural traditions. Reginald of course is a recognized innovator of ragtime music, bringing a contemporary energy to this early jazz style. Howard, although he is not from New Orleans, truly reflects the multi-cultural and multi-national traditions, the different forms and styles of music, that mingled in New Orleans and gave birth to the music we now call jazz.&nbsp; I have known both these artists for a while and am so excited to have them join us at the MAC. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Reginald was a guest artist with the CJP in 2012, when we performed one of his original compositions. </i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEfKXYw3bQY"><i>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEfKXYw3bQY</i></a><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Howard was a guest on my radio show the Real Deal in November and talked about his musical influences and current projects.</i> <a href="http://www.therealdealjazz.com/podcast/tag/howard-levy/"><i>http://www.therealdealjazz.com/podcast/tag/howard-levy/</i></a><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Tickets for Chicago Jazz Philharmonic at the MAC March 22 at 8 p.m. are available by calling the MAC Box Office at&nbsp;<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">(630) 942-4000 or&nbsp;</span><a href="http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=3754&amp;schedule=list" style="line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">AtTheMAC.org</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Mardi_Gras_mask_cateyes_icon.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Mardi_Gras_mask_cateyes_icon.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;"><b>JOIN US for a Pre-Performance Taste of Mardi Gras!</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">MAC Belushi Performance Hall Lobby; 6:30 p.m.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">Includes&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">Andouille Sausage and Smoked Chicken Gumbo,&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">Vegetable Jambalya,&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">Classic Mini Muffaletta,&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">Mini Mardi Gras Cupcakes</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">$12 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;">Tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, March 19. Limited availability. Tickets: (630) 942-4000 or <a href="http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=3754&amp;schedule=list">AtTheMAC.org</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.639999389648438px;"><a href="http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=3754&amp;schedule=list"><br /></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Howard Levy - See full bio at <a href="http://www.levyland.com/">www.levyland.com</a>Reginald Robinson - See full bio at <a href="http://www.reginaldrrobinson.com/">www.ReginaldRRobinson.com</a></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-833866177342861952014-01-29T10:37:00.000-06:002014-01-29T10:37:21.007-06:00Q&A with Barbara Wiesen, Director of the Cleve Carney Art Gallery <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouGX15MffnY/Uubqq0crxNI/AAAAAAAAATA/txcLkH0y8gc/s1600/MAC1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ouGX15MffnY/Uubqq0crxNI/AAAAAAAAATA/txcLkH0y8gc/s1600/MAC1.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Barbara Wiesen, Director of the Cleve Carney Art Gallery</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With the opening of the McAninch Arts Center also comes the new Cleve Carney Art Gallery. It’s a brand new building thanks to one of Glen Ellyn’s most revered philanthropists, the late Cleve Carney, a contemporary art collector and supporter of the arts. As gallery director at the McAninch Arts Center since 2000, Barbara Wiesen is looking forward to the Gallery’s next chapter.</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before coming to College of DuPage, Barbara Wiesen was an Assistant Professor of Studio Art and Director/Curator of the Reicher Gallery at Barat College from 1996-2000. She received an M.F.A. in studio arts from the University of Illinois, Chicago and was a practicing artist for many years before devoting her time to running a gallery.&nbsp;With the gallery opening just around the corner,&nbsp; Barbara&nbsp;took some time to answer some questions about herself, the Gallery, and the&nbsp;upcoming show:</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Why an art gallery on a college campus?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To my knowledge there was an art gallery on this campus back in the 70’s in one of the original west campus buildings. In 1986, when the McAninch Arts Center was built, plans for a professional gallery were created. The original space was called the Art Center Gallery until William E. Gahlberg’s name was assigned to the space in honor of his fundraising efforts for the College. COD has been a visionary and progressive institution, supportive of the arts, and a leader in the growth of community colleges. What better way to expose and educate the community to the advancement of the visual arts then having a professional art gallery on a Community College campus.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What goes into planning for a season of exhibitions?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Research in addition to gallery, museum, and artist’s studio visits are all part of what is needed to create a season of exhibitions. My goal is to bring in a variety of exhibits that this community would not otherwise be exposed to.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many people don’t realize what goes on behind the scenes with each and every exhibit. Planning begins a good year or so in advance with back and forth correspondence with artists, collectors, galleries, museums, writers, and press, - producing publications, the loaning and shipping of artworks, the installation and so on.</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What upgrades to the Gallery (with the MAC renovation) are you excited about in particular?</b></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although the square footage is somewhat similar, the space feels more spacious due to the high ceiling which I love. It’s also a luxury having a bamboo floor rather than tile, and the outdoor courtyard is a beautiful addition ready to be explored.</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What is the permanent art collection, and how do its goals complement the Cleve Carney Art Gallery?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The College’s permanent art collection is mostly made up of artworks created in the past fifty years. Highlights include recent art acquisitions by internationally known artists: Peter Doig, John Baldessari, Richard Serra, many Warhol’s and many works by artists that have exhibited in the College’s gallery.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The goal of the College of DuPage is to become a leading cultural environment that houses a significant contemporary art collection that is challenging and thought provoking to its viewers and complimentary to its educational programs. And to be a public art museum that weaves its way through every building on campus, creating a more beautiful and interesting environment for learning.</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Cleve Carney Art Gallery will offer year-round visual art exhibitions showcasing a variety of innovative art by regional, national and international artists. Our goal is to encourage the growth and understanding of contemporary art through exhibitions and educational programming that cultivate a variety of perspectives. Our vision is to be one of the best centers for contemporary art in the Chicago area. This is exactly what Cleve Carney envisioned with his generous donation.</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Tell us more about the exhibit opening on Feb. 6</b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/708447445854352/">Selections from Cleve Carney’s Art Collection</a></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">February 6 to March 29, 2014</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cleve Carney was passionate about the arts and an avid supporter and collector of contemporary work by local, as well as national and international artists.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He had an appetite and inquisitiveness for new art that continued to broaden the scope of his collection up until the end of his life.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">His collection ranges from work by Chicago Imagists, abstract painting and sculpture, representational, post-minimalist, and conceptual artworks. The upcoming inaugural exhibition </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Selections from Cleve Carney’s Art Collection </i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">will include paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, photography, and digital media by Mel Bochner, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Julia Fish, John Fraser, Pia Fries, Leon Golub, Arturo Hererra, Jenny Holzer, Markus Linnenbrink, Judy Ledgerwood, Robert Motherwell, Jim Nutt, Catherine Opie, Roxy Paine, David Shrigley, Ann Wilson, Zhou Brothers and many many more</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</i><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com0McAninch Arts Center., 425, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, USA41.8425129 -88.069462841.841034400000005 -88.0719843 41.8439914 -88.0669413tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-74798894590822157732013-11-20T10:38:00.000-06:002013-11-21T17:47:26.329-06:00<div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><h2><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Announcing the 2014 Grand Opening Performance Series!</span></b></h2></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">After months of renovation, we are so excited to share with you our 2014 Grand Opening Performance Series! Read on for the full schedule and details about each performance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/O817TkxG_eo" width="560"></iframe></span></div></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">“This is an exciting time for lovers of the performing arts,” says MAC Interim Director Diana&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Martinez. “The MAC has always had a strong reputation, but with updated performance spaces, public areas, and a new art gallery, the MAC promises to be ‘the’ destination to experience the visual and performing arts in the western suburbs.”</span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The MAC’s 2014 Grand Opening Season’s Performance Series officially opens on Feb. 8 with a performance by Grammy Award-winner ‘Keb Mo’.The MAC will hold its Grand Opening Celebration and MAC Madness Benefit, Saturday, March 8 at 6 p.m. The event, headlined by College of DuPage and Second City alum Jim Belushi and The Chicago Board of Comedy, will be an exciting evening of improvisational comedy with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and more. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The exciting selection of music, literary, comedy and dance events for the MAC’s 2014 Grand Opening Season’s Performance Series is as follows. All events take place in the Performance Hall unless otherwise noted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=e85ca251-963b-4481-a67b-06f9c37ddd86">Keb' Mo'</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Saturday, February 8<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">8 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Default"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$50 adult / $48 senior / $40 youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The MAC’s 2014 Grand Opening Season’s Performance Series opens Saturday, Feb. 8 at <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">8 p.m. with three-time Grammy Award-winning musician Keb’ Mo’, known for his genre-blending artfulness, intuitive lyrics, unique guitar style, and magnetic onstage charisma.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Default"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="DA" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DA; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-hansi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=6bdda81a-0519-4e24-a644-a09816ad5687">Secret Concert for Your Valentine</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="Default"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-hansi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;">Cleve Carney Art Gallery Dedication and Concert</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="Default"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-hansi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;">Sunday, February 16</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="Default"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-hansi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;">4 PM</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Default"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-hansi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;">$44 Adult / $42 Senior / $34 Youth </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="Default"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Default"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;; mso-hansi-font-family: &quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;">To mark the dedication of the new Cleve Carney Art Gallery, a surprise Grammy Award-winning jazz artist will share his rich vocal flights, edgy lyrics and original compositions in this unforgettable concert. Performer to be announced in January. Dedication at 3 p.m.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=9ca30225-f446-4899-acab-eccfcb17e3ea"><b>College of DuPage Foundation Proudly Presents</b><o:p></o:p></a></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=9ca30225-f446-4899-acab-eccfcb17e3ea">MAC Madness - Official MAC Grand Opening Night<o:p></o:p></a></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=9ca30225-f446-4899-acab-eccfcb17e3ea">Featuring Jim Belushi</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Saturday, March 8<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">6 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$250 per Person<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">An evening of cocktails, hors d</span><span lang="FR" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">oeuvres and laughs with College of DuPage alumnus and friend Jim Belushi and the Chicago Board of Comedy to benefit and celebrate the programs at the newly renovated McAninch Arts Center. For more information about MAC Madness, call the College of DuPage Foundation<br />at 630.942.2462 or foundation@cod.edu.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=9ca30225-f446-4899-acab-eccfcb17e3ea">Jim Belushi</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Saturday, March 8<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">9:30 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 16.8pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$44 adult / $42 senior / $34 youth</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The Grand Opening evening of non-stop improv continues with a second late night show with Jim Belushi and the Chicago Board of Comedy. &nbsp;Saturday, March 8 at 9:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="SV" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: SV; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=664535ba-11f6-45f8-8224-b0867504e032">David Sedaris</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Sunday, March 16<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">7 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$60 adult / $58 senior / $50 youth</span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="SV" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: SV; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">David Sedaris</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">, known for his sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, performs readings of his newest work in “An Evening with David Sedaris,” Sunday, March 16 at 7 p.m. “</span><span lang="SV" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: SV; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Sedaris</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’ droll assessment of the mundane and the eccentrics who inhabit the world’s crevices make him one of the greatest humorists writing today,” says the Chicago Tribune.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=5022ab88-06bc-43a6-be39-ee52a28505cc">Leftover Cuties</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Club MAC - Playhouse Theatre<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">8 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$36 adult / $34 senior / $26 youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Hot off the heels of their new full-length album, “The Spark &amp; The Fire,” the LA-based, critically acclaimed indie pop quartet <b>Leftover Cuties </b>opens Club MAC with their irresistible combination of sultry vocals, pop-perfect songwriting and old-school musicianship in two MAC debut concerts Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22 at 8 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="PT" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: PT; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=f5a91d04-ed6f-434f-91f3-03043c219531">Chicago Jazz Philharmonic</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Saturday, March 22<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">8 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$38 adult / $36 senior / $28 youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Orbert Davis’ </span><span lang="PT" style="font-size: 10pt;">Chicago Jazz Philharmonic</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">, renowned for their rich, accessible, multi-cultural music experiences share their uniquely Chicago jazz vibes at the MAC on Saturday, March 22 at 8 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=58d49fb0-e878-4f32-b4db-cd988dbfc3f2">Cherish the Ladies</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Friday, March 28<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">8 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$44 adult / $42 senior / $34 youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The explosively entertaining Celtic ensemble Cherish the Ladies brings their enchanting wit and music back to the MAC stage on Friday, March 28 at 8 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=5dbd146e-fc50-4117-9083-df81fc22021f">Hot Club of Cowtown</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Club MAC - Playhouse Theatre<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">8 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 16.8pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$36 adult / $34 senior / $26 youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">By popular demand, the Austin-based western swing band Hot Club of Cowtown returns to Club MAC with performances Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29 at 8 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=58a9cca2-13b2-47e6-a50d-1a89d6024f6c">Classic Albums Live:<o:p></o:p></a></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=58a9cca2-13b2-47e6-a50d-1a89d6024f6c">Abbey Road</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Saturday, April 5<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">8 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$45 adult / $43 senior / $35 youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">In April, Classic Albums Live, who performed their crowd-pleasing version of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” this past summer at Ravinia Festival, performs music from The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” note for note - cut for cut, Saturday, April 5 at 8 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=b8bf58bb-edd1-4f6a-a84c-96df422e8477">Madeleine Peyroux</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Sunday, April 6<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">7 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$48 adult / $46 senior / $38 youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">French-American jazz singer </span><span lang="DE" style="font-size: 10pt;">Madeleine Peyroux</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> wraps up that weekend with her intensely distinctive renditions of old classics and modern tunes by Leonard Cohen and The Beatles, among others, Sunday, April 6, at 7 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="DA" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=92e22548-d8e9-452f-a4c0-d1f45226a68b">Isabel Wilkerson</a></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Tuesday, April 15<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">7:30 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$10 adult/$8 senior/$6 youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist </span><b><span lang="DA" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Isabel Wilkerson</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> comes to the MAC’s Performance Hall for a talk, Q&amp;A and book signing Tuesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Wilkerson is the author of “The Warmth of Other Suns,” one of the New York Times “Top Ten Book of the Year” and also chosen as the 2013-2014 “One Book, One Chicago” selection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=6b7a3748-afa3-49d5-9137-1fa56dceafbf">Pilobolus</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Thursday, April 17<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">8 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 16.8pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$48 adult / $46 senior / $38 youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The internationally acclaimed <b>Pilobolus Dance Theatre</b> returns to the MAC for an evening of mixed repertoire, Thursday, April 17 at 8 p.m. NYC Newsday hails Pilobolus as “a mind-blowing troupe of wildly creative and physically daring dancers who leap, fly, intertwine and break all the rules… Audiences should expect the unexpected.”<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=d30819de-5ee9-468f-8e1c-e46ad6c7398a">Capitol Steps</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Saturday, May 3<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">8 PM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">$42 adult / $40 senior / $32 youth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">The indomitable <b>Capitol Steps</b> bring their nationally renowned brand of gut-busting, funny political satire to the MAC’s Performance Hall for one evening only, Saturday, May 3 at 8 p.m. “I cannot remember the last time I laughed so hard or have been so wonderfully entertained during a live show,” says Splash Magazine.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="SV" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: SV; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><u>Tickets</u></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">To order tickets or for more information, call 630-942-4000 or visit </span><a href="http://atthemac.org/"><span class="Hyperlink0">AtTheMAC.org</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">MAC Pack - The more you attend, the more you save.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Pick two events - SAVE 10%<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Pick three or more events - SAVE 15%<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Limited Time Offer – </span><span lang="NL" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: NL; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Order </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">a MAC Pack by December 17<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Purchase a 2014 MAC Pack by December 17 and receive:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-text-raise: -1.0pt; position: relative; top: 1.0pt;">•<span style="font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">two complimentary concessions vouchers</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-text-raise: -1.0pt; position: relative; top: 1.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 9pt; text-indent: -9pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-text-raise: -1.0pt; position: relative; top: 1.0pt;">•<span style="font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">two complimentary passes to an exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the New MAC (date TBA)</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="Body" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Offer valid for any MAC Pack purchase. Voucher may not be used for alcohol, and is applicable only during the 2013-2014 season at the MAC.</span><o:p></o:p><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Want to be among the first to experience the new MAC?&nbsp; </b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Make your plans to attend <b>New Philharmonic’s popular New Year’s Eve Concerts</b> at 4 &amp; 9 pm on Tues., Dec. 31!&nbsp; <br />This year’s concert is “Viennese Pops with an International Twist” and features an evening of waltzes, polkas and other traditional selections as well as Soprano Emily Birsan from Lyric Opera’s Ryan Opera Center singing Adele’s Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus and much more.<br /><br />It’s a must-see event and tickets are selling quickly! <b>Call the MAC Box Office today at 630.942.4000. </b><br /><br />Plus – Save the date for <b>New Philharmonic’s April 12-13 concerts – The Ultimate Rebel - Ludwig Van!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The April concerts feature Beethoven’s groundbreaking Fifth and Seventh symphonies in one program. For more information or tickets visit <a href="http://www.atthemac.org/">www.AtTheMAC.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com2McAninch Arts Center., 425, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, USA41.8425129 -88.069462841.841034400000005 -88.0719843 41.8439914 -88.0669413tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-47573608939051101232013-10-07T09:49:00.000-05:002013-10-07T14:37:53.271-05:00The MAC Welcomes Diana Martinez as Interim Executive Director<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDLB33_UWqI/UlLI3GesDfI/AAAAAAAAAPM/kPWZuy25mXQ/s1600/Diana+Martinez+Headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iDLB33_UWqI/UlLI3GesDfI/AAAAAAAAAPM/kPWZuy25mXQ/s320/Diana+Martinez+Headshot.jpg" width="277" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt;">This season, not only do we have a new McAninch Arts Center, but we have a new leader at the helm as well.&nbsp; We are thrilled to announce that Glen Ellyn’s own Diana Martinez has joined us as our Interim Executive Director.&nbsp; The former President of The Second City and Executive Director of the Paramount Arts Center is the perfect candidate to triumphantly return us back to the MAC.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt;">A true Illinois native, Martinez grew up in Glen Ellyn and is a proud graduate of the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana Fine Arts Department. She began her professional career as the Director of Entertainment and Marketing for Pheasant Run Resort and Mega Center in St. Charles for 13 years. She presented more than 30 concert and comedy events at the Mega Center including Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Jones, Jay Leno, Tim Allen, Willie Nelson, Dana Carvey and Kenny Rogers. Martinez served as Executive Director for Aurora’s Paramount Theatre from 2001 to 2010, where she was instrumental in the design and funding for a $6.2 million dollar lobby and production space addition. She was honored with the Woman of Distinction Award in 2003, Influential Women in Business Award 2002, and 2003 Today’s Young Executive Award by the Business Ledger. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt;">After serving as Chief Administrative and Marketing Officer of The Second City International, she was promoted to President to assume responsibility for Second City's day-to-day operations. Overseeing an annual operating budget of $35 million, more than 350 employees and talent, and three locations (Chicago, Los Angeles and Toronto), Martinez left her mark on The Second City during her three year tenure. She was instrumental in opening a third theatre at The Second City in Chicago under a new brand: UP Comedy Club. This venue also created an opportunity to showcase and develop more talent, showcase national headline comics, create new rental revenue and catering revenue streams, and offer new matinee programming and children's programs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt;">Bringing years of experience producing everything from full-scale musicals to comedy acts, Martinez is ready to help usher in a new era of performing arts at the McAninch Arts Center. We asked Diana a few get-to-know-you questions to help introduce her to the community!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">What are you looking forward to most about your new role with the MAC?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Having the opportunity to work in my home town is very heart warming to me.&nbsp; I was a student at the College of DuPage for a year before going to the University of Illinois, but the campus is a very different place now. It's such an exciting time for the McAninch Arts Center with the gorgeous renovations and addition of a new outdoor space and expanded art gallery. The MAC is truly poised to re-define its role in the greater community and engage new audiences. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">As a resident of Glen Ellyn, what are some of your favorite parts of the area? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">The downtown! My mom owned Maria's Beauty Salon for 40 years, so I spent a lot of time helping out there. I'm a big fan of supporting the local business community in Glen Ellyn. Lake Ellyn holds the soft spot in my heart, I literally grew up on that lake. I rode my bike there as a kid, fell in the lake while trying to "catch a fish," and it's where I&nbsp; directed and produced my first show in the park with the Before Broadway Players sponsored by the Glen Ellyn Park District, and now it's where I go to walk my dogs and clear my head.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">What has been your proudest achievement?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">I'd say commercially, conceptualizing, and opening UP Comedy Club for the Second City and philanthropically, Founding&nbsp; the Dreams Do Come True Program for the Paramount which annually afforded over 1000 underprivileged children the opportunity to see live theatre (sometimes for the first time in their life). <o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">What book is on your nightstand right now? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">DRIVE by Daniel Pink</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt;">What are your top three favorite things you produced?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><ul><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Michael Bublé Concert</span></i></b></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Adventures of Ratdog and Princess Toad</span></i></b><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:</span></i></b><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A children's show that ran for five years with nine episodes</span></b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Second City's 50th Anniversary Weekend Celebration</span></i></b><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">:</span></b><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hundreds of Alumni, thousands of attendees,&nbsp;red carpet events, parties and shows.</span></b></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">What are three words to describe you?</span><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes;">Funny, Fair, Determined</span></b></div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-27232743994926598852013-07-06T22:16:00.000-05:002013-07-06T22:16:34.083-05:00Mixed EmotionsThe following letter was posted to MAC Subscribers on July 1, 2013...<br /><br />Dear Friends,<br /><br />It is with mixed emotions that I write to tell you that I am leaving the College of DuPage/ McAninch Arts Center to take a position in Early August at California State University, Chico. I am grateful to College of DuPage for giving me the opportunity to serve this community for the past seven years. It has been my pleasure. I believe we have stayed true to our mission to enrich the cultural vitality of the residents we serve, and have laid the groundwork for the MAC to reopen in 2014 stronger and more beautiful than ever.<br /><br />In my new position as Director of Public Events at Chico State I will oversee the Chico Performances series as well as North State Public Radio - NPR for Northern California. It is a wonderful opportunity for me professionally and for my family to be closer to our extended family.<br /><br />As some of my last duties as Director of the MAC, I am putting the final touches on a fantastic 2013-14 season that includes performances by wonderful artists including Madeleine Peyroux, Pilobolus, David Sedaris, our own New Philharmonic and Buffalo Theatre, and many more. Our great MAC staff will be sending information out to you about upcoming events and the reopening of the McAninch Arts Center in December. I promise you will be astonished by the amazing renovation and upgrade to the MAC.<br /><br />Thank you for the kindness and generosity you have shown me and my family. I am sad that I will not greet you at the steps of the new McAninch Arts Center, but hope you enjoy many more performances at the best venue in the Western Suburbs.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Stephen Cummins<br />Director, McAninch Arts Center<br /><br /><br />The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-18994770079913815722013-06-06T15:55:00.000-05:002013-06-07T15:44:57.530-05:00Calling All ChampionsCurrently the MAC has three ongoing campaigns to raise dollars for the arts. That's a lot, some would say too many, that our focus is too spread out. But our focus has always been broad and diverse. We have never catered to only one community.<br /><br />So we find ourselves soliciting money for the Cleve Carney Art Space (contemporary art gallery and collection), Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (resident Equity theatre company), and New Philharmonic (professional orchestra in residence). At present New Philharmonic is 46% of the way to its three year pledge goal of $450,000 and Buffalo Theatre has reached 17% of their $240,000 three year goal.<br /><br />The first on the list, the Carney Art Space, is assured a secure future because of the generosity of one man, Cleve Carney. Cleve's seed gift of dollars and art (estimated $1.2 million) has formed the solid base that will ensure that contemporary art has a home at College of DuPage for many years to come.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TsUL5zgHRcQ/UbD2I9U7XPI/AAAAAAAAANk/fPJzDyDQZL0/s1600/Cleve-LA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TsUL5zgHRcQ/UbD2I9U7XPI/AAAAAAAAANk/fPJzDyDQZL0/s320/Cleve-LA.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Cleve joins a long line of arts benefactors in the U.S. Some with names you know like the competing wine families in California (Mondavi Center at UC Davis and the Gallo Center in Modesto CA. Or closer to home Pritzker Pavilion, Harris Center, the new Logan Center at U of Chicago, and North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall. Every community has champions. Individuals who realize that the greater good cannot be served unless they themselves step up. They embody the etymological definition of philanthropist, "lover of humanity".<br /><br />We are grateful to Cleve for his generosity, vision and humanity. We thank all those who give at whatever level they are able, because they love the arts. In the coming year our community will hear more about opportunities to be champions like Cleve.<br /><br />be well<br />StephenThe MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-73542444321341995772013-03-18T15:58:00.000-05:002013-03-18T15:58:11.554-05:00Make Art WorkMore often than not I hear from people I work with and for, "what is the ROI?" For those of you who do not know the acronym for Return on Investment, count yourself lucky. I suspect there are very few of you who work in and around the arts who have not met with a board member, a patron, an investor, or an administrator who has not asked this question at one time or another.<br /><br /><b>Well the answer is in for our state: $2.75 billion and 78,000 jobs.</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.artsalliance.org/sites/default/files/images/2.75%20billion.png" width="319" /><span id="goog_171638862"></span><span id="goog_171638863"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><br />The Illinois Arts Alliance is asking Governor Quinn to, "show your support for the arts", by adopting the <a href="http://artsalliance.org/makeartwork/make-art-work-principles" target="_blank">Make Art Work principles</a>.<br /><br /><ul><li>Grow Jobs in the Creative Economy</li><li>Leverage the Arts and Creativity to Strengthen the Workforce</li><li>Incorporate the Arts in Community Planning</li></ul><br /><b>You can too by signing a petition at the&nbsp;<a href="http://artsalliance.org/makeartwork/petition?utm_source=sidebar%2Btake%2Baction%2Bblock&amp;utm_medium=website&amp;utm_campaign=make%2Bart%2Bwork" target="_blank">Illinois Arts Alliance web-site&nbsp;(link)</a>.</b><br /><br />be well<br />StephenThe MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-71273872160251507012013-02-27T10:54:00.003-06:002013-02-27T10:54:48.402-06:00Board Presentation - MAC 2014Recently I presented to our Board of Trustees an overview of the McAninch Arts Center. This was intended to be a short and concise view of the MAC: its history, operation and our plans for the future when we come out of our present reorganization. As much as I vainly dislike how I appear on video (remember the camera and the 10 pound rule), I think these 15 minutes are of value if you wish to better understand the MAC. If you have a question or comment - please let us know.<br /><br />be well<br />Stephen<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yBpRO1JH4IQ?rel=0" width="560"></iframe></div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-38618854479076912432013-01-15T06:00:00.000-06:002013-01-15T17:59:16.111-06:00Support the Arts? Why?Randy Cohen, vice president of research and planning at <a href="http://www.americansforthearts.org/" target="_blank">Americans for the Arts</a> posted on <a href="http://blog.artsusa.org/2012/04/11/10-reasons-to-support-the-arts-in-2012-from-arts-watch/" target="_blank">Arts Blog</a> ten months ago a nice list of the top ten reasons to support the arts. The McAninch Arts Center has a bright future ahead of it, but it will depend on whether the community we serve and the senior administration of the College of DuPage believe the arts provide something of value, and if that value is worth supporting with their dollars.<br /><br />be well<br />Stephen <br /><br />I give you Randy Cohen's "Top Ten Reasons to Support the Arts" from April 11, 2012<br /><br /><b>1. True prosperity.</b> The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They ennoble and inspire us—fostering creativity, goodness, and beauty. They help us express our values, build bridges between cultures, and bring us together regardless of ethnicity, religion, or age. When times are tough, the arts are salve for the ache.<br /><br /><b>2. Improved academic performance.</b> Students with an education rich in the arts have higher GPAs and standardized test scores, lower drop-out rates, and even better attitudes about community service—benefits reaped by students regardless of socioeconomic status. Students with four years of arts or music in high school average 100 points better on their SAT scores than students with one-half year or less.<br /><br /><b>3. Arts are an industry. </b>Arts organizations are responsible businesses, employers, and consumers. Nonprofit arts organizations generate $135 billion in economic activity annually, supporting 4.1 million jobs and generating nearly $22.3 billion in government revenue. Investment in the arts supports jobs, generates tax revenues, and advances our creativity-based economy.<br /><br /><b>4. Arts are good for local merchants</b>. The typical arts attendee spends $24.60 per person, per event, not including the cost of admission on items such as meals, parking, and babysitters. Non-local arts audiences (who live outside the county) spend nearly twice as much as local arts attendees ($39.96 vs. $17.42)—valuable revenue for local businesses and the community.<br /><br /><b>5. Arts are the cornerstone of tourism. </b>Arts travelers are ideal tourists—they stay longer and spend more. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that the percentage of international travelers including museum visits on their trip has grown annually since 2003 (17 to 24 percent), while the share attending concerts and theater performances increased five of the past seven years (13 to 17 percent since 2003).<br /><br /><b>6. Arts are an export industry. </b>U.S. exports of arts goods (everything from movies to paintings to jewelry) grew to $64 billion in 2010. With U.S. imports at just $23 billion, the arts achieved a $41 billion trade surplus in 2010.<br /><br /><b>7. Building the 21st century workforce</b>. Reports by The Conference Board show creativity is among the top-five applied skills sought by business leaders—with 72 percent saying creativity is of high importance when hiring. The biggest creativity indicator? A college arts degree. Their <a href="http://www.artsusa.org/pdf/information_services/research/policy_roundtable/ready_to_innovate.pdf" target="_blank"><i>Ready to Innovate</i> report</a> concludes, “…the arts—music, creative writing, drawing, dance—provide skills sought by employers of the 3rd millennium.”<br /><br /><b>8. Healthcare. </b>Nearly one-half of the nation’s healthcare institutions provide arts programming for patients, families, and even staff. 78 percent deliver these programs because of their healing benefits to patients—shorter hospital stays, better pain management, and less medication.<br /><br /><b>9. Stronger communities. </b>University of Pennsylvania researchers have demonstrated that a high concentration of the arts in a city leads to higher civic engagement, more social cohesion, higher child welfare, and lower poverty rates. A vibrant arts community ensures that young people are not left to be raised solely in a pop culture and tabloid marketplace.<br /><br /><b>10. Creative Industries. </b><a href="http://www.americansforthearts.org/information_services/research/services/creative_industries/default.asp" target="_blank">The Creative Industries</a> are arts businesses that range from nonprofit museums, symphonies, and theaters to for-profit film, architecture, and advertising companies. An analysis of Dun &amp; Bradstreet data counts 904,581 businesses in the U.S. involved in the creation or distribution of the arts that employ 3.3 million people—representing 4.25 percent of all businesses and 2.15 percent of all employees, respectively.The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-25475910934760337422013-01-07T06:00:00.000-06:002013-01-07T06:00:08.280-06:00New Philharmonic Concert Cancellation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpcHp-sxxDw/UN6uVfiQJRI/AAAAAAAAAMA/rKLwn3HNQ3U/s1600/NP_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HpcHp-sxxDw/UN6uVfiQJRI/AAAAAAAAAMA/rKLwn3HNQ3U/s320/NP_full.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The New Phil's New Year's Eve concert was bitter sweet this year. The music was sweeter than ever under Kirk's direction, but it was bitter knowing that the last two concerts of the season would not go on.&nbsp;It is a difficult decision to cancel a concert and one I have only had to make a few times in my career. As theatre people the idea of "the show must go on" is engrained in our fiber; thus, not going on with the New Philharmonic season is hard to accept.<br /><br />When we were presented with the reality of being away from our concert home for two seasons we asked ourselves how will we sustain the artistic momentum that New Philharmonic and Maestro Muspratt have been gaining. The orchestra has steadily been growing audience and ticket revenue over the last five years. And all would agree that the concerts are a delight to attend, so what effect would two years away from the MAC have? We were advised by some at the College to shutter the operation, that our audience would come back when we were ready for them. At the same time many of our fondest patrons were asking us where they would go for classical music through the Spring of 2014?<br /><br />It roughly costs the orchestra on average $40,000 to produce each two evening concert concert cycle. The math is pretty simple, at the $32 average ticket price we need over 1,250 people to attend a concert. So when we made the decision to rent concert halls away from our own home and present a modified season (2 fewer concerts) we calculated that 80% of our current audience base would need to follow us. In reality only 40% did. When asked, and we called every subscriber, the reply we heard over and over was, "we love New Phil, we love Kirk, but venue x is too far to travel to in the winter. We'll see you next year when the MAC is back up and running."<br /><br />Facing a 60% drop in ticket revenue, I made the only decision that seemed prudent. We cancelled the final two concerts of the season, <i>Cosi fon tutte</i>&nbsp;and <i>Great Russians</i>. We will end the season in the red and the College will have to cover our deficit. Something they have consistently done to one degree or another for the last decade.<br /><br />Going forward is the next question. In the era of revenue neutral (see post from December 28) we will need to know that the dollars through the door, in the form of donations, ticket sales and sponsorships, can cover all the expenses of this fine orchestra. The College does not want to cover any deficit at the MAC with income from student tuition or tax revenues. This policy includes all MAC operations including the MAC Artist Series, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble and Schoolstage, our K-12 education program.<br /><br />So the onus now is on you, our patron. If you enjoy the orchestra or value any of the offerings of the MAC let us know how you are willing to support your community performing arts center. Comment here or contact me (630) 942-3008 or cummins@cod.edu.<br /><br />be well<br />StephenThe MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-80893053570408442672012-12-27T20:01:00.000-06:002012-12-27T20:01:02.934-06:00Revenue Neutral <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>328</o:Words> <o:Characters>1874</o:Characters> <o:Company>College of DuPage</o:Company> <o:Lines>15</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2301</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kevinbuttonforcouncil.com/images/balance.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.kevinbuttonforcouncil.com/images/balance.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A recent Daily Herald article, “<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 31.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20121223/news/712239833/" target="_blank">Waterleaf chef quits amid COD faculty complaints” (12/23/12)</a>,&nbsp;</span>chronicles the challenge that College of DuPage faces in operating its auxiliary units, primarily the McAninch Arts Center, WDCB Public Radio, and the new Waterleaf restaurant and Inn at Water’s Edge boutique hotel. I often joke with people that if you were going into business with dreams of big profits, at the top of your list of business prospects would certainly be a jazz radio station, a French restaurant and a performing arts center. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Daily Herald reveals three operations of the college that cost the taxpayer and the enrolled student $1.6 million to operate. “In 2012…, the MAC lost $519,000…”.&nbsp;I take issue with the Daily Herald’s use of the word “lost”.&nbsp;When the College spends dollars in support of academic learning or the operation of the physical plant those dollars are offset by tuition and tax revenues. Currently auxiliaries contribute to their operation, The MAC generated $1.3 million in earned and contributed income in fiscal 2012. However the balance of the MAC’s operating budget is covered by the college general fund. The College posted no year end deficit and in fact increased the fund balance.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The mandate going forward from the College is that we operate in a “revenue neutral” manner. The term comes from D.C. tax legislation in the 80’s with the idea that spending increases in the federal budget would be offset by increases in revenue. At the College it simply means that auxiliary units do not spend more than we can earn through earned or contributed income. The Daily Herald article continues, “<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Though college officials expect deficits to continue in the short term, they say they're planning initiatives to try to cut expenses. Breuder said he wants to see the losses reduced, but for now, the college isn't at the point where it would have to give up on enterprises such as the restaurant.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We have already begun at the MAC. During this time of renovation and a smaller season we have reduced staff and other operating expenses and we are stepping back and taking a hard look at our operation. We have every intention of providing arts experiences upon our return but those experiences will have to be going forward “revenue neutral”.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Be well</div><div class="MsoNormal">Stephen</div><!--EndFragment-->The MACnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-74116615803898444622012-11-27T06:00:00.000-06:002012-11-27T06:00:05.627-06:00Giving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.quizzle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/giving-charity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.quizzle.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/giving-charity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">I am happy to see a day in the holiday season designed to ask people to stop and consider others. I do have to laugh that Americans gather on a special day to give thanks for all the blessings and abundance we have, and then the very next day they madly run out to buy more stuff as if what we were thankful for the previous day was not enough. So now Black Friday, Grey Thursday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are &nbsp;being followed by Giving Tuesday. Still a little out of whack – consumption gets four days and selflessness gets one. It’s a start.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">NPR aired a nice story about this possible trend. <a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/11/26/165770413/giving-tuesday-the-start-of-a-holiday-tradition" target="_blank">'Giving Tuesday': The Start of a Holiday Tradition?</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">We recognize the need for social service giving. The MAC has long partnered with the People’s Resource Center during our Christmas Carol and Orchestras Feeding America food drives. In years past we have hosted their annual Gavin Coyle Christmas Concert. This year with the MAC under renovation the concert has moved to North Central College’s Pfeiffer Auditorium this Saturday Dec 1. Ticket information for <i>Songs of the Season: A Gavin Coyle Christmas</i> can be found at the <a href="http://www.peoplesrc.org/default.aspx?EventId=119" target="_blank">PRC website</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The McAninch Arts Center and many arts organizations hope our patrons remember us during this season. Support for arts and culture has always depended on the generosity of others. Beethoven depended on royal patronage and commissions to support his family. Shakespeare wrote plays for the Queen’s court, works that otherwise might never have been enjoyed by the common man for one pence. It is the patronage of a few people with means that allow the masses access to the arts.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The troubling trend for people in my position is that just as audiences for classical music,&nbsp;theater, and the more challenging fine arts are aging and shrinking so are the donor dollars. <a href="http://www.giarts.org/" target="_blank">Grantmakers in the Arts</a>&nbsp;has published several reports noting that arts giving is down and that most markedly affected are the small and medium sized organizations. The CSO, Goodman, Art Institute and the Lyric Opera are storied institutions that are part of the bedrock of Chicago cultural and civic life. Even in down times their patron-donor base rises to the&nbsp;occasion. But what impact does it have on a community when the storefront theater, the hamlet's only art gallery, or the small civic orchestra is forced to close its doors?&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Please remember the small arts organization this season and to our friends on this "Giving Tuesday" we say thank you.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Be well</div><div class="MsoNormal">Stephen</div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-59812636633877621912012-11-20T10:00:00.000-06:002012-11-20T10:00:08.567-06:00UnderwayAfter literally years of planning, beginning with a referendum on the ballot in 2010 through designs by <a href="http://www.wightco.com/home/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Wight &amp; Company</a> Architecture and plans by <a href="http://www.mortenson.com/" target="_blank">Mortenson Construction</a>, the McAninch Arts Center is being renovated. In the mainstage the seats are gone, the wall paneling removed and the carpet pulled up leaving bare concrete. Next will come scaffolding &nbsp;to the roof to remove the ceiling and the old heating/ cooling duct work. All this in preparation for a fantastic face lift.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BpFhxjftSc4/UKuWx-110nI/AAAAAAAAALk/x7BLNXFg9js/s1600/11+16+12+Theater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BpFhxjftSc4/UKuWx-110nI/AAAAAAAAALk/x7BLNXFg9js/s320/11+16+12+Theater.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BmYgfhuNTWg/UKuW0H8-fTI/AAAAAAAAALs/ktnmMKlPWkc/s1600/11+16+12+Seating+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BmYgfhuNTWg/UKuW0H8-fTI/AAAAAAAAALs/ktnmMKlPWkc/s320/11+16+12+Seating+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We too in the front office are preparing for a transition. Asking ourselves how we may better serve the cultural needs of the many communities we serve. Whether that is as a center for arts education, a venue for community groups to use, as a curator of arts experiences, a producer of classical music and repertory theatre or something we have yet to imagine; we are not sure yet.<br /><br />We would love it if our audience joined in the discussion. Simply tell us, in recent history, what was the best moment you have had at the MAC and what perhaps you would like to experience new in the future. Comment here on the blog or email me <a href="mailto:cummins@cod.edu">cummins@cod.edu</a>.<br /><br />be well<br />StephenThe MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-86771808307922374752012-11-03T07:00:00.000-05:002012-11-03T09:18:23.020-05:00Sustainability v Relevance<br /><div class="MsoNormal">If I lived in a perfect world I would be in Austria at the <a href="http://www.salzburgglobal.org/current/sessions-b.cfm?IDSpecial_Event=3300">Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Leaders</a> co sponsored by <a href="http://www.artstrategies.org/">National Arts Strategies</a> and <a href="http://www.salzburgglobal.org/current/index-b.cfm">Salzburg Global Seminar</a>. There I would be with fellow arts colleagues exploring the hard questions cultural non-profit organizations around the world are wrestling with. But thanks to blogs and You Tube I can be an observer if not a participant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QivluRzQ4TE?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The McAninch Arts Center is struggling with this idea of sustainability and Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow <a href="http://www.salzburgglobal.org/current/includes/FacultyPopUp.cfm?IDSPECIAL_EVENT=3300&amp;IDRecords=135236&amp;Participation=Faculty">Diane Ragsdale</a> has been writing and speaking on the topic in her blog <a href="http://www.artsjournal.com/jumper/">Jumper</a> and in Salzburg. If you have 10 minutes I highly recommend you watch this&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QivluRzQ4TE&amp;feature=em-share_video_user" target="_blank">You Tube interview with Diane</a>&nbsp;at the seminar.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />I saw Diane speak several years ago at the annual&nbsp;<a href="http://artsalliance.org/" target="_blank">Arts Alliance Illinois</a>&nbsp;convening. Ra Joy had the good sense to bring Diane to Illinois who at the time was with the Andrew Mellon Foundation.<br />Her presentation <a href="http://vimeo.com/13164105" target="_blank">(link to 2010 speech)</a> focused on surviving the cultural change and was profound for me. She reminded me that art and arts organizations live in relation to audience and that while we strive for sustainability we lose sight of relevance. That we should focus less on selling better and more on seeing better.&nbsp;Her thinking on sustainability and relevance has continued to evolve as she has pursued a PhD in the Netherlands. Her ideas in this most recent interview raised several questions for me and for the McAninch Arts Center.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Diane references the work of scholar Alexey Voinov in her idea that sustainability is an unnatural state. In the life cycle of an organization or any living being there is first <b>Emergence</b> followed by <b>Growth</b>that comes to a <b>Plateau</b> and then inevitably begins a period of <b>Decline</b>, which can either lead to <b>New Growth</b>or <b>Death</b>. The point being it is a cycle. Sustainability seeks to pause the cycle at the Plateau and hold the organization at a certain level. Voinov and Ragsdale would suggest that to live and thrive we must allow for death. Their analogy is of the forest fire. Without the death that the fire brings the forest would not be as healthy or able to thrive in the future.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Diane points out that striving for sustainability may have several pitfalls. In order to be sustainable we either drive our organization more towards the market putting greater emphasis on box office revenue and return on investment, or we turn to wealthy donors and away from the middle class patron. Worst of all we artistically settle for mediocrity and live in a sustainable “walking dead state”.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Questions I will be asking… </div><div class="MsoNormal">What should be our purpose?&nbsp;Are we looking out for the best interests of the organization, the artist or for the community at large?&nbsp;What are we trying to sustain that might otherwise be dying or need to die At the expense of what else?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />What is our relevance?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Would love to hear your thoughts – comment or email <a href="mailto:cummins@cod.edu">cummins@cod.edu</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Be well</div><div class="MsoNormal">Stephen</div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-5347716587734026652012-10-19T10:00:00.000-05:002012-10-19T10:00:10.398-05:00Why Are We Here? Part II <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>407</o:Words> <o:Characters>2321</o:Characters> <o:Company>College of DuPage</o:Company> <o:Lines>19</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>2850</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-12cTzusxPDg/UIFVv_QtRWI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/oteq8YWT2U8/s1600/kathy-bates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-12cTzusxPDg/UIFVv_QtRWI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/oteq8YWT2U8/s320/kathy-bates.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">In the Mike Nichols' movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119942/" target="_blank">Primary Colors</a></i> Kathy Bates’ character admires a beautiful full moon and muses to her friend that they are like the moon, that they can shine and be beautiful but they need the light and energy of their friend the sun (Travolta's Clinton) to do so. A performing and visual arts center can use the same metaphor, without artists and patrons we are but a cold, dark space useless until we are filled with others’ energy. Probably not the best film metaphor as Kathy’s character kills herself in the next scene. But my point is we are facilitators, we are the middle-man in an intimate transaction that connects audience with artists and vice versa.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">That audience member takes on many visages and to me is why we are here.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"></div><ul><li>There is the smart married couple in their early fifties, no kids or kids in college, that enjoy good food and an eclectic mix of music. They come to the MAC once a month tonight it’s jazz, next month folk music, and maybe the next classical. I enjoy talking to them in the lobby – they tell me what they are reading, share a good restaurant they have recently dined at, ask me if I have heard a particular musician – they soak up the total experience.</li></ul><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"></div><ul><li>Then there is the middle-school kid who has never been to the MAC. His family is working hard to pay the mortgage and support the family and honestly arts participation is coming in low on their critical needs list. Somewhere in his being he knows that art (a song, a sunset, spoken words) have the power to move him. But his life does not allow for many opportunities to experience art until one day a musician and a visual artist walk into his school and life may never be quite the same. A person and an organization had to facilitate that experience.</li></ul><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"></div><ul><li>A small bus pulls up, the doors open and brimming with anticipation a dozen people assisted by walkers, canes or the hand of a friend or loved one make their way through our front door. They are spending their active twilight years with a community of older adults and the MAC is a convenient and affordable night out on the town. Now and then when they cannot come to the MAC we manage to bring an arts experience to this most appreciative and deserving audience.</li></ul><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"></div><ul><li>For me one of the most joyous moments I get to experience is holding the door open for a stream of buzzing, wide-eyed 6 year olds. “Did you see when the dancer…, The purple moon was…, It was funny when the mouse…, That was so cool.” Following this trail of energy is a smiling teacher, proud of her class, who graciously thanks us for bringing a theatre company all the way from Nova Scotia to perform for her 1<sup>st</sup>graders. It was our pleasure.</li></ul><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">We’re here to provide arts experiences to people young and old, students and community members; regardless of your station in life or your ability to access or afford. We’re the bella luna reflecting the life giving light of the artist in the dark night.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">be well</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Stephen</div><!--EndFragment-->The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-6575510166979086922012-10-15T21:00:00.000-05:002012-10-16T20:22:01.378-05:00Why Are We Here?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>1175</o:Words> <o:Characters>6703</o:Characters> <o:Company>College of DuPage</o:Company> <o:Lines>55</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>13</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>8231</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FMlFKoqIVBM/UHw_F9GNLII/AAAAAAAAAJ8/SrYSiw0-6kI/s1600/choralmusic1.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FMlFKoqIVBM/UHw_F9GNLII/AAAAAAAAAJ8/SrYSiw0-6kI/s320/choralmusic1.tif" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COD Concert Choir</td></tr></tbody></table>This week on the <a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121013165740AAGHIsn">Yahoo Answers</a> site Amanda asks, “<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 21.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Does College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL, live up to its hype? </span><span style="color: #262626; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">It is supposedly one of the best community colleges in the country, but is it anything more than just a pretty campus? How is the quality of education?” I would tell Amanda if you were considering study in the Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) look at two things. First, our faculty, I’ve never seen a community college with the breadth and depth of talent that College of DuPage (COD) has. Our full and part time faculty have MFA and Doctoral degrees from top tier schools (Universities of Illinois, Texas, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Iowa, Northwestern University, the School of the Art Institute...). Many COD FAA faculty are working artists exhibiting, performing, designing, composing and creating work professionally. Secondly look at the work our students produce. Attend a theatre production, a portfolio night, a film screening, or a concert and you’ll see work on par with any undergraduate institution. I realize these are qualitative and subjective measures and our society and administrations want quantifiable proof. In the business of academia the success of a program is measured in enrollment, completion, transfer and employment data. It’s hard to put something as complex as art making into a simple box. The measure of an artist is not whether they completed a program its whether their web-design communicates well for their client or if their music moves the listener. Amanda, I would tell you to talk to people and look at the work and you’ll see a school that is better than hype.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Most community members never see the important work we do and the primary reason we are here, but this next two weeks it will be on display. The MAC will present the <a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/student_performing_groups/event.aspx">Faculty Recital, Community Band concert, Mid-term Student Music Concert, Community Jazz Ensemble Dance, Chamber Orchestra Concert,</a> and open College Theatre’s production of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=645c9d9e-4187-4f16-a7fd-867b278e6290">The Nerd</a></i> and a student gallery art exhibit. College of DuPage is an academic institution first and the people who are the McAninch Arts Center work tirelessly to support the students and faculty in Fine and Applied Arts. Students see that in a warmly lit stage set with chairs and music stands, scenery and costumes for their production, a professionally exhibited gallery show, a program and a ticket for the concert and a welcoming theatre for friends, family and community to support their work.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Many of the students enrolled here will use their time at College of DuPage to spring themselves into further study in the arts. After performing on our stages and studying and creating in our studios and classrooms many go on to places like Roosevelt University, Illinois State University, Elmhurst College, School of the Arts Institute Chicago and many others. But what use is an arts degree? I frequently get this question, sometimes from fellow educators and administrators. It’s a fair question, should a student receive federally funded Pell grants to pursue an education in the arts and should this education be provided at a community college?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>My three-part answer, first, community colleges are the most democratic educational institutions ever conceived of, thank you William Rainey Harper (1856-1906). Whatever your place in our society, whatever your previous educational successes or failures, and whatever your financial circumstances our doors are open to you. What better place to affordably explore a challenging career and life choice like the arts. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Secondly, our students go on to success in higher ed and professionally. Examples: </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"></div><ul><li>I can point to dozens of working theatre technicians across Chicago that started at COD and earn the industry hourly rate of between $15 and $25.</li><li>Two recent COD grads in music and theatre received <a href="http://www.jeffawards.org/Nominees/nominees.cfm?div=2">Jeff Awards</a>, Chicago’s more inclusive equivalent to New York’s Tony award.</li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">Graphic Design students work for Chicago design firms, educational software companies, as independent web-designer,...</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">You can tune in to Fox on Tuesdays at 8pm and watch <a href="http://www.fox.com/new-girl/bios/lamorne-morris">Lamorne Morris</a>, COD alum, on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New Girl.</i></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">Artist and COD alum <a href="http://vincentglielmi.com/portfolio/">Vincent Glielmi’s</a> photographs are on exhibit right now in the College’s Wings Gallery.</span></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 150%;">This success is often down-played as only a few anecdotal stories. It’s true that the arts are a tough road to take. I spent the first five years of my post college life as a working actor and frankly I did not have the fortitude to gut out a life on the stage and screen. In 1992 I transitioned to arts administration and arts education. Whether study in the performing and visual arts leads to a career in the arts is&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 24px;">irrelevant</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">&nbsp; My final point would be that what arts experiences and arts education do produce are creative thinkers and a more socially responsible citizens. I have known this in my gut since I toured rural Arkansas in 1987 performing Shakespeare for kids who had never seen the Bard on stage. A recent study coming out of the University of Illinois and published in </span><i style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120816151809.htm">Science Daily</a></i><span style="line-height: 150%;"> indicates that participation in the arts (attending and creating) leads to,</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">“predicated civic engagement, tolerance and altruism.” Frankly, those are qualities I want in my community.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">At the recent Midwest Arts Conference the <a href="http://www.artsmidwest.org/files/Russell_Willis_Taylor_Keynote_Address_MAC12_Updated.pdf">Keynote Address</a> by Russell Willis Taylor President and CEO of <a href="http://www.artstrategies.org/">National Arts Strategies</a> was wonderfully instructive and if you have time it’s a good read too. One take away anecdote for me was the story of the non-profit arts organization that complains that their arts education programs do not receive the kind of recognition they should from foundations and grantors. A consultant to the organization asks what percentage of your operating budget goes to educational activities? The numbers do not lie and the arts organization’s own budget revealed they spent less then 1% on arts education. They wanted to be recognized for something that clearly was not a priority of the organization. That’s okay. But it should have been a wake up call that they were a symphony orchestra or a theatre company first. So I have to ask the MAC and the College the same question – what do you spend on the arts? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">In a previous post (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Show Me The Money) the </i>MAC budget was discussed. The break down of the $3.1 million is 35% goes to arts education and 65% to arts presenting. So at least 35% of MAC staff time and 35% of the MAC budget goes to supporting student learning and faculty instruction through performance, exhibition and opportunities to engage with resident/ visiting artists. The College of DuPage has committed $35 million to the renovation of the 165,000 square foot McAninch Arts Center. This year COD funded arts instruction to the tune of approximately $6 million dollars. All of these numbers go to Russell’s point and demonstrate the College can and should be recognized for its support of arts education.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">I believe that is an appropriate level of funding for the kind of broad and specialized arts education we provide. Could the programs in Fine and Applied Arts use more dollars, probably. They most assuredly should not be cut. We are here because our community needs creative, socially engaged citizens whether they make their living from the arts or not. You and I want good music, good performance, good design, and good quality of life for ourselves and for our neighbors. That is what art and artists do for us everyday and why I believe a community college should provide this kind of education for the community it serves. What we do beyond educating students is the question addressed in the next post.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />Be well<br />Stephen<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Next: Why are we here? Part II<br /><br /><br /></div><!--EndFragment-->The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-48353571123533777292012-10-10T11:17:00.000-05:002012-10-10T11:17:11.202-05:00Show Me The Money!<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b>Where Does the Money Come From?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Ticket sales, grants, individual donors, the college, corporate sponsorships, tax dollars, student fees, government arts agency, concession and merchandise sales, foundations, and any stone left un-turned. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">The McAninch Arts Center (MAC) is considered a medium sized performing arts center based on the metrics used in the Urban Institute analysis of U.S. arts presenters <a href="http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/410604_PerformingArts.pdf"><i>The Capacity of Performing Arts Presenting Organizations</i></a>. For fiscal year 2012 the MAC operated a $3.1 million budget. For the purposes of accounting and this discussion we split that number into Educational Arts Support ($1.09 million) and Arts Presenting&nbsp; ($2.02 million). The former represents our support for student productions, concerts and exhibits in Music, Theatre, Dance and Visual Art, the latter is our public face, work we create (symphony and theatre ensemble) and work we present (artist series, art gallery, school series, community engagement work), all for our community. The support for student work in the arts is supported by academic mission of the college and funded through tuition, student fees and tax dollars. Our challenge is to make the other side of the coin work – what the college calls an auxiliary function of the institution.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">So how does this subsidiary of the college operate? In fiscal year 2012 the MAC spent $2.02 million on the non-academic side. This number is split $1.49 million of earned revenue and $530,000 of subsidy from the College of DuPage.&nbsp;</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WqqMyER9ANg/UHWPq8N_7KI/AAAAAAAAAJc/7aD6g-Pkmyk/s1600/MACRev2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WqqMyER9ANg/UHWPq8N_7KI/AAAAAAAAAJc/7aD6g-Pkmyk/s400/MACRev2012.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MAC 2012 Revenue</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if 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student performance and exhibition in Theatre, Music, Dance and Art and COD spent $1.62 million on arts and culture last year. Absent from these numbers are facility and utility support (custodial, grounds, engineering, heating, cooling, electricity and water). For the mid-sized, community college-based performing arts center there are three primary sources of revenue 1) earned income (ticket sales and alternate earned income sources), 2) contributed income (fundraising, grant, endowment), and 3) support from the host institution. The MAC breakdown is 64% - 10% - 26%. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">How do we manage if the College subsidy goes away? Reduce costs, increase revenues, grow audience, change programming, develop alternative revenue sources,… the list goes on and every arts administrator can recite it. Keeping with our theme, <i>where does the money come from,</i> we can easily answer where it does <u>not</u>come from. Reports from Kelly Barsdate, Steve Lawrence, Reina Mukai and Holly Sidford respectively in <a href="http://www.giarts.org/sites/default/files/22-3_Vital-Signs.pdf"><i>Grantmakers in the Arts: GIA Reader</i></a>and <a href="http://www.ncrp.org/files/publications/Fusing_Arts_Culture_Social_Change.pdf"><i>National Center for Responsive Philanthropy: Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change</i></a> left me with these points:</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]-->Grant dollars for the performing and visual arts have steadily decreased over recent years.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]-->Median grant size ($25,000) has remained unchanged since 1993. When adjusted for inflation the median grant has decreased.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]-->State and local arts funding has decreased in recent years precipitously, minus 39% and 20% respectively. The MAC has seen a 70% decrease in Illinois Arts Council support.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="line-height: 150%;">4.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 150%;">Small to medium sized arts organizations receive&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 24px;">dis-proportionally</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">&nbsp;fewer dollars than large arts organizations, 2% of organizations have budgets greater than $5 million but they receive 55% of dollars donated and granted.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">If we’re waiting for foundations, grantors, the government or big corporate donors to come to the aid of medium to small performing arts centers we should not hold our collective breath.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Community colleges are late to the philanthropic table. While our counterparts at four-year universities have been raising money for decades our little arts organization just began making an organized annual appeal for donations six years ago. Our center does not have a fundraiser on staff nor does it have an advisory board with give/get mandate. We do not have a strategic planned giving program for the arts. We have never really asked our patrons to step up in a big way. We always assumed that the institution would take care of us. They always have. We historically ran deficits that were annually excused until three years ago when the College added the number up and it totaled $2.2 million accumulated over approximately a dozen years. That is a sobering number. If the MAC had to ask its patrons to make up a $500,000 annual shortfall it would mean increasing our annual giving by almost 800%.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">We’re pretty good at generating dollars through ticket sales ($1 million plus annually). We manage to provide an eclectic mix of music, theatre, dance and visual arts experiences that our community is willing to pay for; however, if we had to survive totally on generated revenue what would that mean? There is art we put on the stage and in the gallery that without subsidy in some form would never see the limelight. Our Dance Series, New Philharmonic, and Buffalo Theatre Ensemble are three examples. Should the free market determine what art is available to a community or should it be part of the mission of a community college to provide its constituents with arts experiences they otherwise could not provide for themselves?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 150%;">This leads us next to mission and programming. If you have questions, answers or disagree with something&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 24px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 150%;">&nbsp;said, I hope you’ll comment. I promise to engage with you respectfully.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Be well,</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Stephen </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-79479835618815968532012-10-06T07:00:00.000-05:002012-10-11T20:37:40.202-05:00MAC Backstory<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>472</o:Words> <o:Characters>2693</o:Characters> <o:Company>College of DuPage</o:Company> <o:Lines>22</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>3307</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal">A little back-story is in order. I have been the director of the MAC since February of 2006. Before me was Janie Oldfield from 1999 to 2005 and her predecessor was the man who shared Hal McAninch’s vision for a suburban arts center and the first Director, Jack Weiseman. When the Arts Center opened in 1986 the first seasons were a mix of theatre, music, dance and visual arts presented by touring artists, student ensembles, community ensembles and local professionals. As the years passed the number of touring artists increased each season, some community ensembles became professional, and as enrollment grew more students found their way to Arts Center stages and galleries. The number of events or their amateur or professional status are important for the archivists to recall, but for our discussion what is important to acknowledge is that the center grew steadily for two decades. Budgets increased, more staff were hired, revenues grew as did expenses. Many would concur that the quantity and quality both trended up.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">At some point the MAC reached critical mass. For our purposes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">critical mass</i> is defined as the minimum amount of money or number of people needed to sustain a business. I would estimate it was sometime before I arrived in 2006. Some time before 2006 and continuing to this date the College of DuPage has contributed an increasing amount of dollars to sustain the MAC. Simply, it costs the College more dollars, dollars that could be otherwise spent elsewhere, to support the mission of the MAC. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The mission of the McAninch Arts Center is</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Presently the MAC supports the following in service of mission.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>College Music Ensemble Performances</li><li>College Dance Concerts</li><li>College Theatre Productions</li><li>College student and faculty Art Exhibits</li><li>Global Flicks International Film Series</li><li>College Lecture Series</li><li>Artist in Residence Program</li><li>Community arts education and engagement programs</li><li>Community Venue - Rentals</li><li>Gahlberg Gallery – Contemporary Art Gallery</li><li>Buffalo Theatre Ensemble – Professional Theatre in Residence</li><li>New Philharmonic – Professional Orchestra in Residence</li><li>MAC Artist Series – National and international artist performance series</li><li>Schoolstage Series – Performances for K-12 students</li></ul><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The last five categories are considered professional work presented for the benefit of the community at large and our community of students. During the 2010-11 season that category amounted to 148 public performances of 78 arts events and an additional 8 art exhibits. In that season approximately 65,000 patrons experienced a professional arts event at the college, 13,200 of them were school children. I’ll be the first to say it is an impressive list, but is it sustainable? Presently, I would say no; neither from the human or fiscal resource side of the equation. Could it be? Possibly.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So what should we be doing and how should it be supported? Should the mission evolve? Must we evolve? How should we re-conceptualize? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At some point we’ll have to discuss the gorilla in the corner – money.&nbsp;</span>To be continued…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Best<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&quot;; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Stephen<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><!--EndFragment--> The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-38316225661424597262012-10-03T06:00:00.000-05:002012-10-03T10:09:05.285-05:00Re-Conceptualization<!--StartFragment--><br /><div class="MsoNormal">A friend recently gave me a book by Nello McDaniel and George Thorn, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Towards a New Arts Order</i>. The authors place the era into our moment in time, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Expanding our perspective, we see that the current state of the economy is not an aberration – virtually every aspect of the country’s social, political and cultural makeup is undergoing a major transformation. For better or for worse, the arts are inextricably linked to the shifting plates of the economy, culture, society, and politics. The burden of debt and the dysfunction that the arts are experiencing is mirrored in every other sector of society.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sounds about right; however, they wrote this in 1993. The country was in recession, the savings and loan crisis had claimed many large institutions and the federal government had stepped in, the exploding deficit was on everyone’s mind and a young Democrat had defeated a sitting Republican President on the mantra, “It’s the economy, stupid.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fast forward a generation to 2012 and it appears we have not learned much. Our country is slowly coming out of the worst recession in many generations in which the arts and culture sector has certainly borne its burden during the down economy. Many in Higher Education once thought we were immune from the tempests in the marketplace; however, this crisis has proved them wrong. So an arts organization on a college campus finds itself doubly challenged. During the best of times arts organizations are understaffed, underfunded, and over committed. If we can just sell a 100 more tickets, or add another community service because the grant funders will take notice, or suddenly tap the under 35 audience - we’ll be okay. Arts organizations have always understood bottom-lines and dead-lines. The show opens Saturday at 8pm and if we don’t have 500 in the house we don’t make the nut.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I bristle when people say we should operate our arts organization more like a business. So I was happy when Jim Collins, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Good to Great </i>(2005) affirmed my belief. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We must reject the idea – well intentioned, but dead wrong – that the primary path to greatness in the social sectors is to become ‘more like a business’. Most businesses – like most anything else in life - fall somewhere between mediocre and good. Few are great.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bless you, Jim Collins. Why would we want to be mediocre? Not that we presently reside on Great Lane. The arts have always focused on the patron experience, which to me is more than saying we are customer friendly. A customer is a transaction - a patron can be a life-long relationship.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So we are about creating cultural experiences and cultivating patron relationships with the arts that will last a lifetime. Then if the MAC is in a time that Mello and Thorne would call <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">re-conceptualization </i>– a time when we must redesign, reconstruct, and reposition our organizations – we must ask ourselves these questions.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Why should we exist?</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What are our values?</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What are our priorities and what are someone else’s priorities?</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How do we best serve our community, our art form, students, and artists?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Once we ask and answer these questions and begin the process of <i>re-conceptualizing</i> our organization we must face the question whether we have the resources, human and financial, to do the work. To be continued…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Best</div><div class="MsoNormal">Stephen</div><!--EndFragment-->The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-81504434833451320062012-10-01T12:13:00.000-05:002012-10-01T12:13:25.240-05:00Engage With Me <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>98</o:Words> <o:Characters>562</o:Characters> <o:Company>College of DuPage</o:Company> <o:Lines>4</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>690</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal">As many of you know the McAninch Arts Center is closing this month for a major 18-month renovation that, when complete, will once again set the bar for community college arts education, performance and exhibition space. In the interim we continue to present and produce arts events on campus and throughout our community. In the coming months we will be creating a plan for our return to a renovated performing arts center. I will be using this blog to engage in a discourse about arts and culture, the role of a community college in supporting a cultural mission, and the challenges we face. I invite friends, colleagues and contrarians to engage with me and share your thoughts.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Best</div><div class="MsoNormal">Stephen</div><!--EndFragment-->The MACnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-51503085097527538082012-09-11T15:00:00.000-05:002012-09-11T17:20:04.865-05:00Food Truck RevolutionThe food truck revolution has made it to DuPage. In places like LA or Austin, TX haute cuisine served on the curb from a food truck has become the hot thing. Chefs are coming our of their bricks and mortar restaurants and taking their shows on the road. Part of it is the gourmet-ification of blue collar food, like pizza, barbecue, and burgers. I've been to joints where no one bats an eye when a burger comes to the table with pear, arugala and smoked gouda on the bun and as evidenced on TV's <em>Food Network</em> and other popular food focused channels making great barbecue or cupcakes&nbsp;has become a high art form.<br /><br />This Saturday, rain or shine,&nbsp;a few of Chicagoland's Food Truck pioneers<em> </em>will be at the MAC serving up their specialties during our Blues, Brews and BBQ event. Gourmet barbecue, tacos, cupcakes and gelato will all be on the menu along with adult beverages from <em><a href="http://www.facebook.com/TwoBrothersBrewing?ref=nf" target="_blank">Two Brothers Brewery</a></em> and <em><a href="https://www.ihaveabean.com/" target="_blank">I Have a Bean Coffee</a>. </em><br /><br />The links to to our Food Truck Friends are below.<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrandBBQMarket" target="_blank">Brand BBQ</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fire-It-Up/215365051835423" target="_blank">Fire It Up</a><br /><a href="http://www.giaviasweets.com/welcome-to-giavia-sweets.html" target="_blank">Gia Via Sweets</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sweetgingersgelato" target="_blank">Sweet Ginger Gelato</a><br /><br />Gates open at 5:00<br />Bands start at 6:00<br />$10 admission<br />See you there.The MACnoreply@blogger.com0425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, USA41.842423 -88.0714741.8409445 -88.0739915 41.843901499999994 -88.0689485tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-49440713468195824782012-07-02T10:55:00.005-05:002012-07-02T10:58:37.918-05:00My BTE Story<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">by Amy Calhoun</span><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been twelve years since I experienced my first <a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/bte" target="_blank">Buffalo Theatre Ensemble </a>production - <i>Angels In America</i> by Tony Kushner. I was less than two years out of college and I was interviewing for my current job here at the MAC.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a former theater student, I was excited to see this astounding play for the first time and with a company I could potentially be working alongside. I purchased my tickets to parts one and two and awaited the days until I would attend the performances.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of you that remember the old seats of Theatre 2, you'll recall the butt-numbing discomfort, but I didn't care - I was seeing great theater! It was my first introduction to Connie Canaday Howard and Robert Jordan Bailey, and as I sat in the darkened theater, I was entranced by the story unfolding in front of me. The performances were brilliant and even if I didn't get the job, I knew BTE was going to be my theater of choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ahAqR0sxH_U/T_G_AEh23tI/AAAAAAAAAHA/aK5_BgegVJg/s1600/Rabbit+Hole,+Amelia,+vert.+alone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ahAqR0sxH_U/T_G_AEh23tI/AAAAAAAAAHA/aK5_BgegVJg/s200/Rabbit+Hole,+Amelia,+vert.+alone.JPG" width="133" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Amelia Barrett in <i>Rabbit Hole</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lucky for me, I did get the job and have been working with the members of this ensemble for more than a decade. I cried buckets of tears over Amelia Barrett's performance in <i>Rabbit Hole</i>. Jumped out of my skin watching Kurt Naebig and Robert Jordan Bailey beautifully execute the thriller <i>Woman in Black</i>. And, swooned over William "Sandy" Smillie performance in <i>Stones in his Pockets</i>. From the design elements to the performances, every participant of a BTE production has a way of impacting me when I see a production.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DtQehUxmmCw/T_G_VKxUBsI/AAAAAAAAAHI/4W4L5CScaK8/s1600/Woman+In+Black+Robert,+horizonal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DtQehUxmmCw/T_G_VKxUBsI/AAAAAAAAAHI/4W4L5CScaK8/s200/Woman+In+Black+Robert,+horizonal.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Robert Jordan Bailey in&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Woman in Black</i>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">S<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18pt;">ince moving to this area fourteen years ago, I have seen more BTE productions than any other professional theater in all of Chicagoland so I guess that does make me a bit biased. But even though I read the scripts in advance, it never fails that I am amazed by something unique and real that BTE productions bring to the stage.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p2-n4_CZmG8/T_HAK5EhgUI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/_VT_GXWCiGw/s1600/SMILE1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p2-n4_CZmG8/T_HAK5EhgUI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/_VT_GXWCiGw/s200/SMILE1.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Drawer Boy</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The best part is I’m only one in the hundreds of people who enjoy Buffalo Theatre Ensemble production after production. This audience and I share a common bond – an appreciation and joy for theater that is giving stories life. I invite you to join me and the rest of the audience as BTE brings <i><a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/bte/BTE_Drawer_Boy.aspx" target="_blank">The Drawer Boy</a></i>to the stage this summer and then continues into their 26<sup>th</sup> season with <i>The Lady with All the Answers</i>, <i>The Underpants</i> and <i>Trumbo – Red, White and Blacklisted</i>. I can’t wait to have you be part of the story too.</span><o:p></o:p><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Amy Calhoun is the Marketing Specialist for the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble and New Philharmonic.</span></div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-72634687026082200902012-04-13T12:40:00.001-05:002012-04-13T12:51:08.212-05:00Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's Tuesdays with Morrie<div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>Tuesdays with Morrie</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">based on the book by Mitch Albom<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">directed by Amelia Barrett*<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Touching, thoughtful and sweet, <i>Tuesdays with Morrie</i>, based on the 1997 best-selling book, tells the story of Morrie Schwartz and his unexpected renewed relationship with former student Mitch Albom. While fighting his battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease, Morrie mentors his former student with valuable life lessons on life, love, wealth, aging, dependence, peace and death.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Cast:</span> Michael Sassone* and Carl Lindberg </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*Member of BTE and Actors’ Equity Assn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">May 4 to 27, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Preview: May 3<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Showtimes&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Th, Fri, Sat: 8 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sun Matinee: 2 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ticket prices&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $23 to $33<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“Unforgettable! No matter how well you tell the story, the play makes it more vivid, more shattering, more humorous.” – <i>New York Magazine</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>PHOTOS</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RCG1gtqIcy4/T4hexqS1J7I/AAAAAAAAAGc/zAqX_Hl5d-0/s1600/Tuesdaywithmorrie10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RCG1gtqIcy4/T4hexqS1J7I/AAAAAAAAAGc/zAqX_Hl5d-0/s200/Tuesdaywithmorrie10.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Sassone as Morrie Schwartz in Tuesdays with Morrie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HIGoi7unheY/T4he5lDCJpI/AAAAAAAAAGk/bM8DRc65I0M/s1600/LINDBERG,+CARL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HIGoi7unheY/T4he5lDCJpI/AAAAAAAAAGk/bM8DRc65I0M/s200/LINDBERG,+CARL.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carl Lindberg</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eguJ3wg0KWo/T4hgaZSd3-I/AAAAAAAAAGs/fo8RjPgFS4w/s1600/michael+sassone.TIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eguJ3wg0KWo/T4hgaZSd3-I/AAAAAAAAAGs/fo8RjPgFS4w/s200/michael+sassone.TIF" width="137" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Sassone</td></tr></tbody></table><h1 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #414141; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Westmont’s Galen Ramsey Creates Designs for BTE’s &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.1em;">“TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE,” May 4-27</span></h1><a href="http://triblocal.com/westmont/community/stories/2012/04/westmont%E2%80%99s-galen-ramsey-creates-designs-for-bte%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Ctuesdays-with-morrie%E2%80%9D-may-4-27/">http://triblocal.com/westmont/community/stories/2012/04/westmont%E2%80%99s-galen-ramsey-creates-designs-for-bte%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Ctuesdays-with-morrie%E2%80%9D-may-4-27/</a> <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>RELATED VIDEOS</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Clips of Tuesdays with Morrie film starring Hank Azaria and Jack Lemmon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">Part 1- movie</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2I8jryI97U&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2I8jryI97U&amp;feature=related</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Part 2</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYg3HWkD4yc&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYg3HWkD4yc&amp;feature=related</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Part 3</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P4aAKb8pSY&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P4aAKb8pSY&amp;feature=related</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">part 4</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDbH_6LAn2Q&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDbH_6LAn2Q&amp;feature=related</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Part 5</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn1CNZWGMAU&amp;feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn1CNZWGMAU&amp;feature=related</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Morrie Schwartz interview with Ted Koppel</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DbeHxA55sek" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">Mitch Albom's speech at the&nbsp;</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;">2007 Augie's Quest Black and Blue Bash&nbsp;</div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CuazNYNIl5c" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Mitch Albom's web site with actual interviews with Morrie Schwartz</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mitchalbom.com/books/3856/tuesdays-morrie">http://mitchalbom.com/books/3856/tuesdays-morrie</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6196530290612976724.post-89688965337893444342012-03-19T10:36:00.003-05:002012-03-21T12:59:19.129-05:00Hungry for Something New?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cMG4OU7zATU/T2dVZJI79XI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Va4No9BW8wg/s1600/Pierrot+banner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cMG4OU7zATU/T2dVZJI79XI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Va4No9BW8wg/s320/Pierrot+banner.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Are you naturally curious? Do you seek out the radical, the unruly, the experimental? Does the avant-garde excite you? &nbsp;Then you might want to explore the <a href="http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&amp;WorkflowItemID=f48d25b4-8681-4397-bc45-d2db287723c1">eighth blackbird production of Pierrot lunaire</a>.<br /><br />We've compiled some interesting information about the program and the ensemble to help you along on this sonic adventure.<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.eighthblackbird.org/">eighth blackbird blog</a><br /><a href="http://www.eighthblackbird.org/projects/pierrot">About the Pierrot lunaire project</a><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Arnold Schoenberg conducts <i>Pierrot lunarire</i> (1940) Audio</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.archive.org/details/SchnbergPierrotLunaire">http://www.archive.org/details/SchnbergPierrotLunaire</a></div><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/20252277?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/20252277">eighth blackbird: Pierrot Lunaire</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6106867">Mark DeChiazza</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Links about eighth blackbird:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.npr.org/artists/103305220/eighth-blackbird">http://www.npr.org/artists/103305220/eighth-blackbird</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://chrismcgovernmusic.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/timothy-munro-representing-eighth-blackbird/">http://chrismcgovernmusic.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/timothy-munro-representing-eighth-blackbird/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Arnold Schoenberg Center</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.schoenberg.at/index.php?lang=en">http://www.schoenberg.at/index.php?lang=en</a></div><br /><br /><br />About New Music:<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jan/30/contemporary-classical-music-finds-audience">http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jan/30/contemporary-classical-music-finds-audience</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/nov/28/alex-ross-modern-classical-music">http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/nov/28/alex-ross-modern-classical-music</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/tomserviceblog/2010/nov/29/modern-classical-music-alex-ross">http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/tomserviceblog/2010/nov/29/modern-classical-music-alex-ross</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Suggested reading:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>The Rest is Noise</i> by Alex Ross</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Listen to This</i> by Alex Ross</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Schedule of eighth blackbird Events:</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Monday, March 26<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">10am &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lecture/Demonstration (MAC Room 139)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tuesday, March 27</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">4 – 6 pm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Open Rehearsal (MAC Mainstage)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Wednesday, March 28<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">6:30-7:10 pm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; PreConcert Lecture provided by Professor Lee R. Kesselman<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">7:30 pm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Performance<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Post MAC Chat&nbsp; Provided by members of ensemble<span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We &nbsp;look forward to having you join us for something 100 years old yet completely new.</span></div>The MACnoreply@blogger.com0